Soft, Strong And Totally Absorbing

Fleckney CC V Bowden CC

Whisper it quietly but the season end is not that far away. It maybe mid August but some leaves were already changing colour on the Reporters route to the ground and some had already decided to cover the grass on the farmers side of the Ian Wallace ground. It therefore becomes important to make a statement before games run out ‘leafing’ us high and dry.

Bowden had arrived with a Sunday side in the very best traditions of the game. Mixed in terms of age and gender and with a true family feel to it. In Fleckney team news Brij had pulled out late (rumours he was auditioning to replace the Andrex Puppies apparently unfounded) and Farhan stepped in. As it turned out it was an inspired if enforced swop as Farhan was magnificent. Brij left er papering over the cracks? (I'm so so sorry about that one).

Farhan opened the bowling and got some inswing and nip off the pitch. On a hot afternoon 6 over spells is enough for anyone and figures of 1-12 indicate a bowler in good order.

From this point the visiting batsman took over as a century stand between Nick Jelley and Oliver Lawrence threatened to take the game away from Fleckney. Jelley playing his first game in 8 months following surgery showed few signs of rust and Lawrence was particularly nimble in his use of the feet against the spinners.

It is only right and proper that the batsmen got their full credit up front but they were aided by one dropped catch and some rather ineffective fielding. For about 10 overs the wheels came off, and I don't just mean a little lay by flat tyre, I mean the full on circus clown car. Standards and heads dropped as leather flew, only the score and frustrations rose. Bowden closed on 258 for 4, the fat keeper somehow getting 2 stumpings and a caught behind.

With over 6 an over wanted a brisk start was required. Mandeep didn't score on his first four balls, talk of slow hand claps and fines for slow scoring were mentioned. He then clobbered 5 consecutive boundaries before soon departing.

If this raised concerns it shouldn't have done as Farhan 101* (magnificently supported by Subhash 57* on loan from league cricket) put the scoring into overdrive. Fleckney were over 140 before the first drinks break at 15 overs and even though both retired it didn't really matter as Fleckney cantered home by 9 wickets with a scarcely believable 7overs to spare. In terms of comebacks it was akin to the Black Knight from Monty Python winning the sword battle with all his limbs chopped off.

This was the performance of the season, we won't wipe this one clean. Even if we now have sufficient toilet roll to do so